Clamp



(No' Model.)

B. J. OQUINN. CLAMP.

110.456,634. Patented July 28, 1891.

l my l r I n i' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRYANT J. OQUINN, OF KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA.

C LA M P SPECIFICATION forming part ef Letters Patent No. 456,634, dated July 28, 1891.

Application filed March 4, 1891. Serial No. 383,773. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRYANT J. OQUINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kissimmee, in the county of Osceola and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Olamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clamps, the objects in view being to provide a cheap, simple, and easily-applied clamp, and especially adapted for clamping fish-plates and rails together during the insertion of the bolts in forming the joints between the rails.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be partieularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being in position upon the rail. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the clamp. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

t Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the gures of the drawings.

In practicingmy inventionI employ amain lever l, of suitable length, terminating at its upper end in a hand hold or grip and at its lower end inatoe 2. A U-shaped strap 3 has its terminals located at opposite sides of the lever and is pivoted, as at 4, to said lever a short distance above the lower end or toe of the latter. Between the terminals of the U- shaped strap there is securely bolted, asat 5, a clamping-section 6, which extends down and nearly opposite the toe 2 of the lever. In rear of the clamping-section there is pivoted, as at 7, in the outer end of the U-shaped strap a gravity-pawl S, the upper end of which is beveled, as shown, so as to ride freely over the inclined teeth 9, formed upon the adjacent face of the lever l when the pawl is moved in one direction and to engage with said teeth when the pawl is moved in the opposite direction.

In practice the pawl is disengaged from the teeth of the lever and the upper end of the latter swung toward the pawl, while the clamping member is engaged over the rail and fish-plate, the toe of the leveror opposite clamping-member taking at the opposite side. Previous to such mounting of the clamp it will of course be understood that the fishplates have been adjusted relatively to the rails, so as to bring the bolt openings or perforations of each opposite or in alignment. Such having been accomplished, it now simply remains to draw the upper end of the lever in the opposite direction to that rst mentioned, or, in other words, outwardly, so that the two clamping members snugly clamp between them the fish-plates and the rails, and in this position they are locked by the gravitypawl riding down over the inclined teeth and subsequently engaging said teeth, preventing any separation of the two members. The bolts can now be passed through the fishplates and rails, which are thus held securely together during such operation, the clamp thus remaining in position without further attention upon the part of the operator.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim is- The combination, with the main lever terminating at its lower end in a toe and at its upper end in a handle and having its inner face provided with inclined teeth, of the U- shaped metal strap having its terminals pivoted to the main lever, the clamp member secured within the strap, and the gravity-pawl pivoted to the strap in rear of the clamp and adapted at its upper end to engage the teeth of the main lever, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRYANT J. OQUINN.

Witnesses:

JNO. M. SEE, J E. FoXwoRTHY, 

